Man At Peace

The Christmas tree shone, brightening up the room

Decorations hung in splendour

Gifts lay beneath the tree

He was sitting in his favourite armchair

A man at peace with the world

He would watch the children run down the stairs

The room would come alive as they opened their presents

A special present for the good lady

The noise drifted into the past

A long time ago

Seemed like yesterday

The accident

The Policewoman crying, telling him the news

The day he died inside

Seventeen years now

Always the same ritual

Made the day seem right, special

Memories came flooding back

He sat down to rest

Slowly drifting off to sleep

They found him that way

In his favourite armchair

A man at peace with the world.